The Greatest Irony
Amy Cohen Efron created the four-part vlog series called, “The Greatest Irony” discussing about two most popular and fastest-growing language programs available for Deaf and Hearing babies.
Please visit The Greatest Irony Website
Amy Cohen Efron created the four-part vlog series called, “The Greatest Irony” discussing about two most popular and fastest-growing language programs available for Deaf and Hearing babies.
Please visit The Greatest Irony Website
March 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Wow, powerful vlogs, Amy!!!
Even as a person with CI, I do find the irony in all of this…
We need to expose more deaf Adults/children who are very happy and successful to the hearing world - I am so sick of hearing, “Oh they are isolated and living off on SSI, low level of reading level when they graduate from high school…”
That has NOTHING to do with their deafness - it’s the lousy lousy quality of education!!
But there ARE successful deaf people and we need to put them on pedestal just like they do with successful children in oralism, AVT, etc…
ASL FIRST!!!!!!!! Anything else can be accessorized if you like…
We need to educate, educate, educate!
Barb Digi blew all of us away with her vlogs on her deaf children learning English through ASL and you can see how happy they are!
Sorry for rambling… but wow. It makes me mad now…
Even a vlog of me wouldn’t justify it..
March 17th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Very nicely done, Amy! Keep up the good work!
March 17th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
An eye opener! No economic benefits for us. We are truly not pure to the health system and govt. that are supposed to help us and promote us. Very chronic oppression and self promotion and de-promotion at our expenses, shame. Thanks for sharing.
March 17th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Nice work, Amy.
Really deep….friggin’ insane when you think about it…
March 17th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
****silence*****
profound loss of words to describe the feelings of injustice imposed on the ‘needs’ of a deaf child
Rob Walker
March 18th, 2007 at 12:02 am
I showed your four part blog presentation to my hearing mother. When she saw the deaf child getting the AVT training during the third blog, she said that I had that back in the 60s. Then during your 4th, my mother smiled and said, “That woman is right”. And I concur.
Amy, this is an awesome presentation. I am always telling new mothers of deaf babies this. When I worked for TRIPOD in Burbank, CA, I used to go to homes of hearing parents of deaf infants to teach them sign language and get involved with them as part of the family during dinner and bed time. It was an powerful experience for the families to have a Deaf adult involved during the sign language development stage for the whole family during the deaf infants’ formative years (0-5).
Can you write exactly what you wrote, so it can be circulated to other new hearing parents, Deaf agencies, and deaf adults. Plus caption your presentation. This is the greatest Irony that should be told everywhere. It can save many children from language deprivation.
Waving hands
Julie Rems-Smario
March 18th, 2007 at 12:17 am
pahhh! missed u so much! ur vlogs always so powerful! i always adore ur stories. i am gonna to share it with russian parents and friends
keep vlogging! 
March 18th, 2007 at 12:20 am
WOW!!!!! What a great presentation!!! I am speechless! Thank you for sharing with us! At first, I felt awful but in the end of your presentation impact my thought! That is why we all are together to read all Deaf bloggers/vloggers at deafread.com! A+++++++++++++++
March 18th, 2007 at 12:28 am
*claps claps claps* Oh wait! I better stop having habits of using hearing clapping cuz I can’t hear! Okay here it is! *hands waves in the air like wild* Whooo!
You did excellent job on those vlogs! And research too! That’s what I’ve been TRYING to explain my hearing friends that oralism is not always the best approach and it is important for all deaf children to develop ASL.
I have cochlear implant and I went to SJI. That school banned sign language because of their belief. Now I’m adult and I learned ASL. I wished I learned it so I can have better social life. You are 100% RIGHT!
Tonight, I was thinking about posting about my experience at SJI until I came across your vlog. Now I’m thinking about telling my side. Hmmm. That will take me a while.
Again, *hands waves*
March 18th, 2007 at 12:30 am
*A huge grin* — Yep yep! It is a biggest irony of all. As a Deaf oralist, I was never happy during my school years. I hope this will educate to this complicated hearing society! *Hands waving for Amy* Diane
March 18th, 2007 at 12:32 am
Amy,
I find it to be a DIVINE COMEDY!
It is immoral and unethical for a deaf baby to be deprived of baby signs! It is like to reduce a deaf baby to a lower animal! À Dieu ne plaise! By the time a deaf baby enters school, his natural and developmental intelligences will be six years behind than we were before the new millennium. I would like to see the statistics by Dr. Nussbaum, director of Laurent Clerc Center’s Cochlear Implant which Jane Kelleher Fernadnes founded in Fall 2000. I wish Moliére were here to write a farcial play about today’s Frankensteins attempting to make the REVERSAL CULTURE! Thank you for your very powerful and extremely well-organised presentation! I loveeeee all of your vlogs! Do vlog more often, s’il vous plait. 
March 18th, 2007 at 12:33 am
Wow, what brilliant presentation! I drop my jaws down to nowhere where you made a final summary. I agree with Julie Rems-Smario’s comment about caption your presentation. I like to show your wonderful product to my hearing friends. I hope that you can make a special website that is what you make here so the congress of the worlds can see your points to change their views on deaf issues.
OH boy, I love ya!
Dennis
March 18th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Wow! Very true! I saw that you mentioned Mrs. Pollack in your vlog, she was one of my speech teacher, I always felt fear when I saw her, she was very powerful and very critical. A lot of deafies had her for speech therapy, I don’t know if they all had great speech or not. I didn’t have great speech. But she worked you very hard, she would not let you go even though you got very tired and wanted you to be able to say a particular word perfectly even if it took a long time.
Anyway, your presentation was very powerful and I felt very tearful at the end because I know how it was for me when I had to undergo speech and auditory therapy while growing up, I could have benefitted from Baby Signs much more than speech/auditory training because I am considered as an “Oral failure”.
Please caption your vlog so that it can be shown to hearing parents and professionals.
Thanks!
March 18th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Wowowowowow! Amy, what a superb vlog! How true… quite an irony. Sheesh! This vlog series needs to be sent to the FDA and the government and have them be TOLD and SHOWN just how ridiculous they’ve been. But then again, I guess they’d rather make money with their cochlear implants and hours and hours and hours of speech therapy.
On a side note to Michele, and to everyone else who went through speech therapy and are considered “Oral Failures”… for those of you who know ASL… you are not “Oral Failures”, instead you are ASL Achievers!!! I *hate* seeing how Audists blame and label deaf people as “Oral Failures” for not being able to speak. UGH. Do we Deafies force ASL on hearies and then call them “ASL Failures” when they don’t sign very well or not at all?
Move over, Amy. Now I’m mad, too!
March 18th, 2007 at 1:12 am
I agree with Carrie! I often call myself a survivor of the oral system. I refuse to call myself “victime” or “failure” because the system did not beat me. The system did not win. I am thriving nowadays because of ASL!
Thanks for your positive words
Julie
March 18th, 2007 at 1:27 am
Thank you for sharing, this is valuable information for parents who have a deaf baby and don’t know which approach to take.
Would like separate vlog with captions for hearing non-signing parents to see… do you think that is possible?
March 18th, 2007 at 1:32 am
Hi Amy,
I learned a great deal about the systems you presented here. I’ll be refering back to this for my writing. I really love how you are calm in your presentation without “bias,” yet we all know how ironic it is with you (even if you tried), and then when the 4th part came, I laughed. You’re ingenious.
I’ve enjoyed your vLogs and was waiting for your next one, but got four parts. And it was worth the wait.
Aaron- my brother went to SJI. What year did you go?
March 18th, 2007 at 1:33 am
All I can say is wow! Definitely the irony!
March 18th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Once again a great Vlog!
I’ve posted before about the Great Irony that Hearing parents of Hearing children will teach their babies Sign, yet Hearing Parents of Deaf Children CONTINUE to be told the MYTH that if their child learns Sign, it will STUNT and IMPAIR their English. How long ago has this MYTH been DISPROVEN???
But the most Gigantic Irony, as I see it, is how Hearing Praents of Deaf Children will go to “Any lengths to help their child. Any legnth, except for PICKING UP A GODDAMN BOOK AND LEARNING SOME FUCKING SIGN!!!
Yes, Surgery is on the table. Years of therapy. Various contraptions.
But me picking up a book? Going to a class? Well, that’s to hard for ME. My six-year-old trapped in a rubber room repeating “Ba-boo-bee,” for five hours a day is much easier than me, as a fully cognisant adult attending at class any Community College, or cracking a frigging BOOK so I can communicate freely with my CHILD.
March 18th, 2007 at 1:48 am
This is why we need to push hard NOW to get the best people nominated and elected to the Board of Trustees. There will be SEVEN NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
We need the BEST seven people to fight hard to change Gallaudet so that Gallaudet will revamp the SLCC building to emphasize teaching ASL to deaf babies.
This is a social emergency!
March 18th, 2007 at 2:20 am
Your argument is extremely valid. It is so silly not to let deaf babies have both, when hearing babies can rely on all the visual cues they want. I would really like to see the AVT people try to refute your point. Ha.
I’m hearing myself, and I went to a deaf coffee hour the other day to improve my sign skils. You know how those things tend to be all hearing people trying to improve their sign skills. Well, I met this girl who was about to finish her program in deaf education, and her sign skills were not good. Not only were they not good, but I doubt she could understand your vlog, and you are very clear. She was telling me how she used to interpret in a school resource room for a fifth grader. I couldn’t hide my shock. I said “Well, you must really know sign then!” and she said “It’s not really that important. It’s simple stuff, you know, a fifth grade resource room.”
AH!!! With attitudes like this it is no wonder that deaf students struggle. When you can’t communicate, you can’t learn. The kid goes to the resource room for help with math, reading, science,etc, and he gets someone who knows how to FINGERSPELL clearly and that’s about it!? As an INTERPRETER!?!?
I had a science class in college taught by a guy with a very heavy accent, so much so that we all really struggled to understand him. It was completely unacceptable to us, even though he was functionally competent in the English language. People were outraged, constant complaints. Yet this sort of breakdown in communication is acceptable to give to deaf children everyday.
March 18th, 2007 at 2:32 am
Amy
Bravo,Bravo!! Yes for sure, very irony!! You made me to stop and think about deaf babies who have cerebral palsy. That means a research is needed to study the communication needs , includng ASL making CP/Deaf children to become successfull in their life.
Anyway, Amy, Your vlogs are real powerful to tell the world to stop and start listening to us Deaf adults what best for our deaf dhildren. Thank you Amy
Mark Hill
Vice President
Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization
March 18th, 2007 at 2:37 am
I know this is off topic and I want to add comment..
This is add subtitles to online videos.
Have anyone try this online??
http://www.overstream.net/index.php
March 18th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Amy,
You should go on a national TV news.
March 18th, 2007 at 4:20 am
Here’s my response to your vlog. Carl
March 18th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Tell me about it! I noticed that the programs were developed by hearing people… not deaf people who have more experiences, more knowledge of deaf children’s needs, etc. My daugher is a visual, ASL deaf child, but she loves listening to music, reciting the lyrics, etc., due to her having some residential hearing.
Yes, I am curious to see what the hearing researchers would say about your vlog…
Keep us posted!
March 18th, 2007 at 7:23 am
I always love your vlogs. You did the good job. Also I do think that this idea is not new.
March 18th, 2007 at 7:52 am
My curiousity — Have anyone been researched on a deaf parents with a hearing babies? I did not see that information much, but a few bit. I like to know more deeply about it since I am a deaf parent of two hearing children, when they were babies - when they are born, it is their very first time to hear, see, smell and taste! They hear my voice, smell, hear my heartbeat! My two babies already developed a bond with me. Of Course, they learned a sign language before they talk — my point is that impossible as called a deaf parents’ babies a silent without any voice. There are a various sounds cames from music, TV with volume on, a background people talking, their sibling’s talking, etc that babies will listen and learn what they make any sounds! I could be wrong in a view of point, please correct me! Thanks!
Also need to do more research about that one, it would be great to do at SLCC –”Deaf parents with hearing babies” project! Need to improve the education!
March 18th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Oh AMY!!! WOW, thanks for your AWESOME CREATIVE Vlogging!!!! I love it!!! You made me feel goose bumps!!!
http://aslisrisen.blogspot.com/2007/03/no-close-bonding-with-my-parents-from.html
SKE
March 18th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Amy– **Hands waving** –a well-detailed and powerful vlog series presentation — **hands waving**!!!! You did a INCREDIBLY FABULOUS job hitting all the target issues!!! We, me a Deaf-blind mom and my husband a Deaf sighted dad of a Hearing prekindergartener, use ASL and its tools such as Signing Time to communicate with him and he is pretty much comfortable being bilingual in spoken English and ASL.
As a paraeducator of DHH kids, I have seen most hearing parents not being able to learn ASL to communicate with their kids and it quite makes me ponder how the kids are adjusted with their lives in overall. In return, I encourage their parents to rethink their choice of communication and get involved with their kids. A great irony, eh?
Once again, a fabulous job, Amy!
Ginny
March 18th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Hi Amy,
An excellent presentation on both AVT and Baby Signs and the irony inherent in the programs. I have been thinking about doing a vlog on the subject for a while now. You beat me to the punch! Congratulations.
I agree this is quite ironic. And the irony has enormous impact on deaf children who have been unable to benefit from the AVT therapy provided to them.
Do please type a transcript of your presentation as I feel hearing people, especially those in the Ontario government that deals with education and children NEED to see this. I will most definitely share your vlog with my principal and my colleagues.
Thank you!
Shelley
March 18th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Amy — this is me again! I agree with some of the comments above that a transcript would be greatly needed for the hearing people, especially the parents, to see this! I will DEFINITELY distribute and share this vlog with the people whom I work with in all capabilities! Thanks again!!!
Ginny
March 18th, 2007 at 8:47 am
Amy Cohen Efron here,
For some who wishes to have a transcript for this 4-part vlog series, please scroll up and there is a link for the MS Word Document transcript for you to download and review. Thank you JJ Puorro for his time to write up this wonderful transcript! If anyone feels that this transcript needs to be edited or tweaked, LET ME KNOW!
I am seeking for volunteers who are willing to do a voice-over, make captions, etc… and I would like to have a collaboration effort with my vlog. It is not about my product only, it is “OURS” to share with everyone about the truth and irony about what is going on today with educating young Deaf babies with cochlear implants.
Lastly, thank you so much for sharing your comments, and I read some of them with a heavy heart - because they are passionate, fiery, and insightful.
I wish I could respond to each of your comments individually, and I hope that my response here will show how appreciative I am for you.
Thank you so much and best always,
Amy Cohen Efron
March 18th, 2007 at 9:14 am
WoW!!! WoW!!! WoW!!! I always am fascinated by your vlog. The reality of the information was excellent and very eye opening. Your presentation was informative, powerful and inspiring. You have a lot to offer and I feel we need to learn more from your work and personal experiences. Hearing parents(being upset to discover their babies are Deaf)needs to realize that we happily accept our Deaf identity and make good success in our life and be proud of ourselves. Media??? Movies??? Any thoughts how to awake Hearing parents???
Vlogly your fan
March 18th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Carl (#25),
Excellent response…
Maybe we can start a new trend to borrow the German word “habilitation” (without the “re-”).
March 18th, 2007 at 10:04 am
Dear Amy,
Wow! I am impressed that you worked and researched very seriously. Honestly, I am grateful to teach my girls sign language quickly SINCE they were born! Even they are hearing but different personality, of course. My oldest daughter is an excellent writer. My youngest one will be the kindergarten this fall.
In my opinion, I truly think that the sign language helps either deaf or hearing babies to develop way ahead.
I do not know how I am very fortunate to have you my friend from Gallaudet!
ILY! White Ghost
March 18th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Amy! Amy! Amy! Bravo! You have described what I would call a delicious irony, except that it is actually a tragic irony. This should be required viewing and reading for all new parents of deaf babies–even deaf parents! Forever your fan and supporter,
DPG
March 18th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Amy,
You made all points… It is simple to see why deaf people tend to have more challenges in their lives because they were/are not allowed to experience better approach that hearing babies were/are getting from baby signs. The hearing educators of deaf from AVT or any similiar program should be considered as serious child abusers. We need to make a law to stop those child abusers working with our present and future deaf children and their parents.
Where should we start?
Linda
March 18th, 2007 at 10:56 am
One other thing that came up in my mind, AVT is a form of division in the family, don’t you think?
One of the main benefits of teaching a baby signs is to increase bonding between mother and baby. AVT takes that opportunity away from them. How will AVT proponents explain for the bonding opportunities between the hearing mother and the deaf baby? Don’t let them take that precious opportunity away!
I believe I put a post on a hearing parent’s view of how it can affect families on Aidan Mack’s website. Can go there to review it. I thought her words were powerful.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Goverment should ban A.V.T., because They are a bunch of Nazi people.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:08 am
Ironic, YES!
There’s more to the story. Check out Sign2Me and compare their program to BabySigns.
The irony between AVT and BabySigns. Could it be “marketing strategy?”
We have to take in the skills of marketing. BabySigns said all the right, positive things. Suppose, just for the sake of argument, we transposed all the marketing vocabulary from BabySigns and put them into AVT.
Amy, your third video, said “develop bonding between baby and mother.”
As a male, I felt that was a bit discriminating! What about the FATHER?
smile
Watching the AVT portion, and seeing the mother, teacher and baby with the colored rings, and the teacher covering her mouth, brought back so many of my own frustrations when people do that. It is passive-agressive behavior!
Just because a child has a hearing aide, or a cochlear implant does NOT mean they are hearing anything. It doesn’t even guarantee they’re comprehending what they are hearing, if anything at all. It is all the “perception” of the audiologist, and we know THEY want to sell their “wares!” I speak from experience..smile!
Give the kid ASL, give the famiy ASL, use whatever vocals you want, give them the opportunity to lipread, too. Don’t HIDE all the necessary means of communication!
Thanks for doing this video. Awesome work, Amy!
March 18th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Eddie, I can understand that my vlog evokes a lot of strong emotions and the AVT program is very powerful one and it may stay for a long time.
The point from my vlog is that we need to COMBINE ASL (or different country’s sign language) with AVT so that Deaf babies can reap best of both benefits.
Why cannot deaf babies can have sign language AND AVT (if beneficial) altogether?
That’s the point.
Amy Cohen Efron
March 18th, 2007 at 11:17 am
I’ve noticed this irony years ago, when the popularity of baby signs skyrocketed. You did a great job, Amy, illustrating the ironies. Hearing people, especially the parents of these deaf babies, need to see these vlogs.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:20 am
To #21 Cranberry,
Oh, my dear Cranberry, yes, an absolute muuuuuuuust! Yes, Amy Cohen-Efron should be on 60 Minutes, 20/20,
Good Morning, America, Today, Dateline, on Katie Couric’s news. Couric is a true underdog, fighting for people’s rights. We can help our Amy be heard nationally by writing to different TV networks. I dread seeing deaf babies be abused.
I suspect that Cochlear Implant Corporate is behind that by putting people on their payroll for prompting
CI. It is a cardinal sin for some deaf people to falsely say that CI is THE answer. No, cochlear implantées remain deaf forever!
Write to TV networks now!
March 18th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Amy,
If Deaf babies can learn signs along with AVT, it might even support their progress with AVT even more. Having a foundation in language may help connect better to phonics. Something to think about. I am not an expert in this area though. It is just so crucial for the deaf babies to take advantage of those benefits from the baby signs program.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Jean,
I realized something — since this WEDNESDAY, we will have a huge, huge showcase on the PBS channel called “Through Deaf Eyes” documentary.
How can we effectively market this blog as a ‘response’ to the PBS documentary?
I am little nervous that the PBS documentary may be little weighted towards to oralism… experience tells me that it happens over and over again. Setting myself up from disappointment from general media representing us.
Anyone know how to contact media to review my vlog?
That means I need someone who is willing to do voice over and captioning ASAP before this WEDNESDAY’S showing.
Amy Cohen Efron
March 18th, 2007 at 11:33 am
To Brian in #20 :
Yes, we need Amy Cohen-Efron, Candace McCullough, Sharon Duchesneau, and Jay Krieger to serve on the Board of Trustées. We really, reallY, REALLY need
them because of their clear logic and integrity. Also, they have a mind of their own without letting any head-patter influence them. Gray-haired people must go and Generation XI people be in now! Once they are on the BoT, they will have their voice heard in the media!
Let us nominate them to the BoT now.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:55 am
Wow, Amy! Your vlog takes my breath away. I cannot tell you how impressed I am with your thoughtful and clear presentation of the very sad irony of the continuing barriers to linguistic access for Deaf children today.
You mentioned research findings on the benefits of teaching hearing babies to sign, among them: reduced frustration, increased mother-child bond, and increased self-esteem. Sadly, when it comes to the AVT program (focusing on teaching Deaf babies to use any hearing they may have), I wonder just how much of the hearing professionals’ and parents’ frustration, self-esteem, and perceptions of bonding are being catered to here. Instead of focusing on what benefits Deaf babies, the AVT program seems far more concerned with the adults’ feelings. Sigh.
It breaks my heart to see the clip of the hearing baby happily signing away, knowing that there are countless Deaf babies out there who don’t have the same opportunity.
Irony is the perfect word for this.
March 18th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Powerful and Impacted!!! That we must do something about it for Deaf Education! Educate, educate and EDUCATE to hearing world!
KAthie
March 18th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I see the show but I don’t support on Auditory Verbal Therapy because baby is deaf I prefer baby use hearing aid until she or he grow up little awhile then he or she can make the decsion want to have corhel or not because they don’t know how much their understand hear or too much stress force to learn hear the word.
It is kind of ruin ugly part on head. They should not force baby to use . it is not their descison . They have to wait and learn patient if child want to use corhel (spell) or not .It is their own body not their control over baby or child to put without ask. Baby can learn ASL is simply only way.
March 18th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Dear Amy,
It is wonderful that you came forward and posted a vlog about “The Greatest Irony”. It is a also a perfect title for this topic as well. I grew up in outside Philly and actually went to “Helen Beebee” clinic in Easton, PA. I have old papers of that idiotic lady and pictures of her. I know a few other people who went into that program and off and on I hear of coclear implants but I did everything to trick my parents in believing that they do not work for me; indeed I came out clean. I went through many years of negelect and luckily I married a deaf woman who immersed me into ASL.
March 18th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
To Sharon in #48:
You hit the nail on the head when you wrote “the AVT program seems far more concerned with the adults’ feelings.” I feel exactly the same you do. Why do they treat deaf people as CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD or as worthless citizens. I am telling you that when I first watched our Amy’s vlog, I felt something hit in the guts. No exaggeration. It is like the angry Beethoven’s hitting the chord of Majority C in his “Symphony No. 9.” So hard that he is considered as the father of Jazz, but what makes me feel good is that Biographer Green of England writes: “I wish there were 4,000 deaf musicians.”
March 18th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Amy, I was thinking last night, perhaps SLCC is designed to partake in this economic benefit. If many other folks are getting rich off this, why can’t they? Nevertheless, I still think they should recognize and promote ASL and that such impure strategies is a grave insult to our pure beings.
March 18th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
*sitting quietly, contemplating The V-Logs with jaws agape*
God God! Amy!!!! We gotta get you on OPRAH!!!!
You never cease to amaze me. You continue to outdo yourself! Am I glad you are in OUR community and in OUR world….
Love you AMY! And thank you!
March 18th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Amy,
It is on March 21 this Wednesday, not Thursday for PSB Documentary.
Kathie
March 18th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Amy-
Kudos to your best vlog ever I eyesighted! Actually, the first of three series you presented and I was angry at the first. Eventually, your summary shared with our audience. Quickly, I supported your comment with my absolute agreement.
Gee! I wish both methods should be use for deaf babies like us to boost our intelligence and increase of self-esteem. Your presentation gave me very beautiful! I love you for your great effort!
By the way, I would love to get the trascript of your vlog or caption for my hearing mother and siblings.
I agreed with Jean Bouchter about being you in newsmedia to educate Americans about your topic. It will be great controversial issue. Be strong!
In additional, I think you should serve on Gallaudet Board of Trustee.
Take care,
Nick
March 18th, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Kathie,
You are CORRECT! I am mistaken. I don’t know why I am stuck with Thursday date!
Let me fix my comment.
Amy Cohen Efron
March 18th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
After i read this vlog, I cant explained how emotional i was !!! I had tears flowing over my face . In 1960’s, I had hearing aids and auditory verbal therapy when i was 18 mos old to 8 years old . It failed me terrbily !!! it angered me when they covered their mouths when i was in speech class . I gotten into ASL deeply since I was 14 yrs old to now … I have four hearing children and they had learned baby signs developed into ASL and spoken lauguages . It shocked my parents . Know what they said ??? They wish they could have ASL with me when I was baby .
Lets Roll !! We can make a difference by marching to Capitol for BI BI approach in Deaf Education and Justice for Deaf children and People . WE need a leader for leading us marching for better education and Save Deaf school
written by Cheree Ersek Mull
March 18th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
I am back.. I had to view your VLOG, AGAIN. I might not catch you so clearly or I must be a half-sleeping this early morning. Now I am fully awake. Your transcrip came out so I printed it out so I can read it clearly. Now I understand clearly.
Wow…
Deaf babies VS. Hearing babies for “babies sign”
At first place I thought by
Hearing babies by hearing parents
Hearing babies by deaf parents
( I might not pay attention!)
Deaf Babies — AVT — improving or develop their hearing by CI or whatever, you mentioned that there is no bonding with parents ? Wow! PLUS no sign language, too. Right, that don’t make any sense.
Hearing Babies — Babies Signs — Language Sign, reduce frustation, a bonding with parents, more vocabulary, more IQ.
Interesting.
March 18th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
[…] Posted by deafnewsnetwork on March 18th, 2007 The Greatest Irony: ” […]
March 18th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Yes, please do nominate Amy and others for the Gally BOT. But be sure to follow the official nomination process, or it won’t be counted. People have been nominating people, but not following the proper procedure, so those nominations were not accepted.
————————————-
more info from http://bot.gallaudet.edu/x3684.xml
“Individual Submissions
Nominations for membership on the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees may be made by any source. Nominations should be provided in writing and may be submitted by electronic mail to Dr. Harvey Goodstein, ’65, chair of the Committee on Trustees, at botnominations@gallaudet.edu, or mailed to:
Nominations, Board of Trustees, Office of the President, Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
When submitting the nomination, the person making the nomination must include the name of the nominee, contact information for both the nominee and the person making the nomination, and the nominee’s resume and biographical sketch, along with any other supporting documentation.
…All submissions must be received by April 9, 2007.”
——————-
So Amy and others, where can we view your resume, biographical sketch, and contact information? (hint, hint… we can’t nominate you without this information)
March 18th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Amy,
You outdid yourself! Sigh- last month a friend of mine had another Deaf baby, and the nurse wrote this to her…
“YOUR CHILD DID NOT PASS THE HEARING TEST. SORRY.”
Sorry?!@W#!#! Sorry??!!! That’s the ROOT of all these so-called “therapies” and “education”- to ELIMINATE Deaf people, just like that AVT video said- “eliminating deafness as we know it” (or something like that). Bottom line, audists will do anything, including robbing us of our self-esteem, language, and humanity, to “eliminate our deafness”.
DE
March 18th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Dear Amy,
I really enjoyed your VLog, I am a hearing mother of a deaf 10 year old boy. He has been exposed to sign language since I found out he was deaf at 18 months old. Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t have access to other deaf adults as I do now to learn about deaf culture. I am thankful that sign language was his first language. It enabled us to communicate almost as soon as we started doing it!
I believe it is because he was able to have ASL as a first language that he developed such a strong grasp of English as well. He is considered “high funtioning” so much so that he is in his mainstream/local school. I find this to be a good and bad thing. I like that he is considered intelligent, however I am saddened that because of that he only has access to deaf peers when I make it possible outside of school.
I so wish there was a way to keep deaf children together and give them the same educational opportunities that ALL children deserve. There is social growth and strength that lives in my son when he is in the presense of other deaf children - something I feel he lacks with his hearing peers.
As for learning ASL first, it’s the best thing that ever happened to him. My youngest child is learning signs now and we are able to communicate whereas without them we could not as easily (she is hearing).
I think you Vlog is very powerful, and I wanted you to know that you are reaching hearing parents of deaf children.
March 18th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Ah!
Oh, it does not work! Okay, here is a link to my video response!
Teri Sentelle’s VLOG response to Amy Cohen Efron
I forgot to add about my daughter being as above average student in every subject due to her early exposure to ASL.
http://www.terisentelle.com/vlog/?p=84 (That’s one of several entries not going thru Deafread. It discusses why my daughter is higly skilled in language arts.
March 18th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Response to Amy
March 18th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
You made amazing video to show us. Helen Beebe and other For Speech and Hearing Center had laughing way to the bank. By the way, I love your other video, also very powerful too and You have pretty smile. Thank for our sharing!
March 18th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Guess you are barking at tree. I have been wondering about this in more than ten years ago when the cochlear implant was campaigned around. I always telling hearing people why it is ok for hearing babies to learn sign; forbid the deaf babies learn the sign when the Ear Insitute encourage the hearing parents not sign to Deaf babies. Are we sleeping over years? I believe they are stepping one or two steps ahead. Are we are blamed for that?
March 18th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Here is my video comment. Hope this works when I press the comment.
Response to Amy Cohen Efron
March 18th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I did fight what you said but many hearing people ignored me because I am deaf. I did complain that there was no deaf model in meeting about future of deaf child. Recently a hearing mother visited my school. I asked her what does she want for her deaf son to learn. She replied talking, talking. She considered cochlear implant for her son. I asked her if she already discussed or read all the information about cochlear implant. She said yes. She did talk with some deaf adults. But who are they and what kind of education do they have? She still wants cochlear implant for her son. I was speechless. It is so sad. We must find a way to make hearing parents to realize that sign language is best for deaf babies to learn first. WE, many deaf people without cochlear implants or hearing aids are very successful. Many of us came from good wonderful schools. SFP
March 18th, 2007 at 9:40 pm
Excellent!
Deaf children have every right to learn as much as hearing children do. NO EXCEPTION!
In the near future, Deaf children and their parents will appreciate your significant contribution very much.
David Kerr
Ontario
March 18th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
What? I am 67th commenter! Rarely that I am THAT late, but better late than never. This is one story nobody should miss, late or not.
Other commenters before have said it all.
Great job Amy, as always!
March 18th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Amy,
Like Carrie and Julie have said, I am a “survivor” of the oral method. Your vlog has made me so angry all over again. I thought I had made peace with it but now I am no longer at peace. My heart broke in pieces watching that little girl listen to the teacher with her mom watching on. Just as I went through. All the memories are flooding back and I feel the pain all over again. It is so unfortunate and unfair that hearing babies are exposed to while deaf babies are robbed. I am so angry! I am glad I am not at peace as I thought I was because there are still many babies out there going through it. How can I ignore that and be at peace??
Thank you for reawakening me to this great irony!
Beautifully and powerfully done. I thank you! Wow!
Beth
March 18th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Oh Amy, Amy! Fabulous! Fabulous! Thank you! Thank you!
It only took me one day and a half away from deafread due to my daughter’s slumber party and I am already so behind in viewing vlogs! I defintely can’t miss yours, Amy! I really want to pat on your back…no, wait a min, can I hug you? You deserve the best!
I really, really appreciate you taking the time making this quality vlog showing both sides of hearing and deaf babies receiving communication methods in a different way, one is convenient and the other with struggle. It is just too crazy!
It saddens me to see how these previous language learning period is so wasted with time devoted to training speech and auditory skills without really understanding the meaning of the words or making any connection using ASL that will help them comprehend reading and develop writing skills more effectively. Where is the common sense, hearing America? I am so boiling mad and tired of this crap. I have enough of it! We just got to be more aggressive with the media and have this powerful message reached out to parents of deaf children. The deaf children are too young to fend for themselves so who will advocate for them? US! Yes, that’s what we are trying to do using this channel as a way to get across to their parents.
Amy, I must talk with you very soon since we are in the process of forming a group of deaf leaders to be a part of Bi-Bi NOW movement. We just need to look beyond vlogging and take some political actions. Vlogging is a powerful medium to get across to parents, no doubt about that, but I think NOW is the time to form an organization that will focus on providing our wealth of resources and “a side of the story told by deaf individuals” that will combat these audists and naive parents who rely on these so-called experts. Who are they to continue to consult them? We just got to tell them to move over and say look, hear us out!
Be in touch soon!
Hey Jay, at least you beat me!
March 18th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Keep in mind that it’s the dear ole AGB Assoc. that keeps tellin’ parents the same stuff the past 127 years- that ASL is bad, being Deaf is something to be eradicated, and that speech therapy will help their Deaf child be hearing. Never mind the CI technology- while the device is “new”- the idea and objective behind the CI device is ANCIENT. We need to focus on the real enemy, not squabble with each other.
March 18th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Amy…you’ve hit it right on!! Wonderful!! All we have to do is just look at Swedish society’s amazing “requirement”: communicating with ALL of the DEAF babies in Swedish Sign Language! Even with CI babies, there’s still tremendous pressure for parents and their families to use sign language! One thing I need to point out: we need to be careful when mentioning using both ASL and speech. It could easily be misinterpreted as Simultaneous Communication and ASL cannot thrive on that. I’d keep ASL and speech sessions separate.
March 18th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
http://aslisrisen.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-response-to-amy.html
March 18th, 2007 at 11:10 pm
comment to #73 Barb DiGi:
Please count me in for taking a action in Bi Bi Now movement! Let’Roll!!! I thought I was getting over with my angry about oralism. But It was flashback my memories with my speech training back in 1960’s. I want to use my angry energy to make a difference for the deaf kids in future . You already known me from Philly . I didnt want to put my email addy in public .. I will ask around to get your email addy .
Keep me Posted about the BI BI Now Movement !
March 18th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Amazing Amy ~
I believe you have just been given the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes in the deaf community!!!!!
Hands up waving, your 4-part vlog has captured the hearts of everyone!
You never cease to amaze!
Hugs, my friend.
~ LaRonda
http://www.earofmyheart.com
March 18th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Count me in for BiBi Now Movement! Now its time for me to join and act instead of talking and do nothing.
March 19th, 2007 at 1:38 am
Amy, Thank you for this very informative presentation on AVT. As an interpreter & advocate for the Deaf community, I’m always looking for information to keep me abreast of topics such as this. Therefore, I have forwarded the link to your vlog to my San Diego interpreting yahoo group in hopes my colleagues will take a moment to enlighten themselves as well. Thank you for always bringing clear and purposeful discussions to the table…and for your hard work.
Best Regards,
Heather Quinn
P.S. It was a pleasure meeting you in DC at the blogging conference. And in case you don’t recognize my last name, I’m Jared’s girlfriend
March 19th, 2007 at 6:10 am
Barb Digi –
I know….I truly think that Amy’s presentation could have convinced and helped the hearing parents with deaf babies through the national-wide medias and presses. So that way we can make the voices in order to support the bi-bi movement.
Hugs to you, Amy, my greatest friend. I never forget you.
White Ghost
March 19th, 2007 at 7:44 am
#73 — BarbDiGi –count me in for the BI-Bi Now movement!!! We need to see more ACTION into this movement!!! Thankss!!!
Ginny
March 19th, 2007 at 7:59 am
Amy, KISS-FIST your vlog.
Barb DiGi, we definitely need to work together to make changes. Count me in.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Amy
It was good to see you last fall for the short time! My wife and I were glad that we met when we were in Vancouver, WA.
This blog—you did an excellent job! A very powerful one! Please keep it up!!
Cheers!
Mikey
March 19th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Amy,
What a POWERFUL vlog!
Please send your story to Oprah’s show…
http://www2.oprah.com/email/email_landing.jhtml
March 19th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Wow, I am really impressed from your blog.. Very Obviously, we support our community to cherish our ASL Language in the whole world….
Smile.. - Good JOB!
March 19th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Thank you for giving us the “voice.” I was puzzled to see that hearing parents encouraging sign language with their hearing babies, and hearing parents are being told not to use signs with their deaf babies. It bugged me for a long time. I am truly grateful that you took the topic and talked about this. The self esteem, ability to “talk” by signs as early as possible which reduces frustration for hearing babies are so essential. The research shows that it helps to increase intelligence and improve speech with sign language!!! I do not know what it will take to wake hearing people up to deaf babies’ utmost needs for self esteem, communication, and being happier. This is the greatest irony part of all, indeed.
March 19th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Hey Amy!!!
I just recently found your site with all these great vlogs! Wow! So well done, so clearly explained and presented.
You asked about finding captioning and voiceover for the 4 part vlog…have you checked with Dana at WSD? She is still there doing captioning, and at the very least might be a good resource.
Would love to see this captioned so it can be shared with folks who don’t know ASL.
Thanks for your passion, commitment and purposefulness. And by the way, you look great!
hugs,
Julie
March 19th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Hi, Amy! You hit the nail on the head! I feel exactly as you do. There should more equality for deaf babies. I want the best of both worlds for ALL of us–& it would be wonderful people would open their minds & accept all these wonderful tools–ASL, AVT, HA’s, CI’s–whatever is needed to enhance their life experience!
March 19th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Wow! One of helluva powerful vlog ever! Huge IMPACT (knocked my head off)! VERY TRUE! I would love to share this at the statewide interpreter conference if possile?
Smile,
Tara
March 19th, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Girl you are right…right…right.
I have been having this debate for years. I am a hearing interpreting student at Palomar in Southern California. I do not understand it Amy, I really don’t. People need to understand that if their child is born deaf they are normal. That thier child will grown up and function the same way that we do… IF we give them the tools they need to do so. It just seems like such an easy answer. This is the language they will use for the rest of their lives, why are we not teaching it them when they are babies. AHHHHHHHH. It is so frustrating. Keep fighting Amy, I’m with you all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Smiles
Tiffany
March 19th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
For Post #33:
Amy, you have a great job of using your metaphorically examples. All Deaf people have a great capable of using their own metaphorically opinions about their true Deaf needs. That’s something I love to see more from our Deaf folks!
About posting the subtitles on vlog is heck of a job! I wish that word of “lie†does not exist in the Webster Dictionary however; there is no way for everyone to do captioning on the vlogs as sweet as you would make brownies! In the beginning, you will feel that you are cooking everything on the Thanksgiving Day eventually; you will feel that you are making brownies. That’s how I do my subtitling at the first. Now, I am getting used to doing this feature. Unfortunately, not all video supports have the on/off switch where the viewers have choice of reading the captions. That’s why I use Google Video. I know Google Video does not have a great quality like others. Also, I have Deaf English and it is very tough to put the perfect English alongside with the vlogs. Again, I am not LYING how tough to get everything done!
I really enjoy your vlogs very much. You have the high level with passionate related to our Deaf Culture. Keep up your good job with vloggings!
March 19th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Thank you!!
As a hearing interpreter, I get people saying this to me all the time: “Isn’t that Baby Sign program wonderful?” It makes me nuts because of exactly this situation.
1. Yes, it’s wonderful, but WHY is it touted only for hearing babies and not for deaf ones (as you say)?
2. Also, most of these so-called “baby sign” programs use simplified signs, not real ASL signs. I can’t understand this. Don’t hearing parents understand their baby when she says “muuuuk” instead of “milk”? And don’t deaf parents understand their baby when she vaguely grabs at the air instead of signing MILK?
The whole issue of “baby sign” leaves me so cold that I can’t even agree with people about the benefits, because it angers me so much that doctors tell parents of deaf babies that their development will be hindered by learning sign, while parents of hearing babies are encouraged to teach their children sign.
Excellent vlogs. I wish I could hand out cards with this website to the next people who want to talk to me about this.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Great Job! Amy ! Awesome! I fully agreed with your blogs. My husband is deafblind and Myself deaf have hearing son. He is very bright and high level more than hearing children with thier hearing parents. Hearing people puzzled how my son become very bright that his parents are deaf and deafblind???? HOW??? ALLLL Thanks to use ASL that he learns use to ASL in his baby age. It is very simple to learn ASL and can react to high communicate better than use tools or bionic CI. I noticed that hearing parents have no idea how ASL is best communciation and help deaf children to get high grades and level better. The hearing parents left deaf children behind because they did not learn in ASL in first place. Let me say that compare ASL and AVT. ASL saves our lives. AVT didnot save our lives.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Excellent job, Amy!!
I feel the same way as you do. Without ASL I was always getting into trouble when I was little because I was very frustrated. Lets Rock N’ Roll!
Keep vlogging. You are AWESOME!
Lisa Covell
March 19th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Amy, I just read your great vlog. What I can say? WOW!I am product of Atlanta oral schools (Davidson and Jr Speech Schools), but am very prond alumni of Historic Ga School for the Deaf and love ASL very much!! It is my prayer that your vlog will be very well known around World even into media! Please keep up your great work!
March 19th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Amy,
Yes, I agree with you that we must notify PBS. I have a hearing friend who is a supporter of the UFG. He would do it for you. Will get back to you off list after I have heard from the friend.
Hopefully.
Jean
March 20th, 2007 at 1:03 am
Here, my response to you in VLOG:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2142697702719803546
March 20th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Well - what can I say after all of wonderful comments above. Amy - well signed!
Now it is time for us to pay attention more to what we need to do. The best thing we can do is to join Deaf State Associations and National Association of the Deaf. Through both associations, we can start and push few things such as legislation that will require hospitals, audiologists and others to add ASL as one of choice. That’s something we need to work together and identify on what we need to do.
I challenge you to join state association and national association of the deaf today and make the change!
Time is NOW. NOW! NOW!!!
March 20th, 2007 at 1:20 am
UGH…. I was just watching the animal planet channel and an advertisement came on.. what did they show????
Babies.. going to school….. hearing babies with a group of smiling happy mothers sitting in a circle around their darlings and teaching them baby signs.
the spokeswoman for the program was remarking on the sucess of this venture and she used the word “empowering”.. said that “this actually empowers the babies to have some control…”
WTF?
THAT’S the whole thing right there! “ENPOWERMENT”!!!
what made me sick was seeing those happy smiling faces of the mothers as they worked with their kids in the group - how little did they know of speech therapy victims’ histories when denied access to ASL.
where was empowerment when we needed it?
**banging head on table**
RFW
March 20th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Wow… That is a huge irony… That is interesting how it’s okay for hearing babies to learn sign but deaf babies are forced to learn how to “hear.” That’s backwards and ironic especially because so many people blame ASL for illiteracy in the deaf community. Obviously those people have failed to notice the research put into baby sign language. Like you said, Baby Sign Language helps develop vocabulary and increases IQ, not to mention it makes it easier for parents to know what their little baby wants before they can talk. If baby sign language helps develop hearing babies’ speech skills, then why can the same not apply for deaf babies? If it works for hearing babies, imagine how it can help deaf babies! I agree with you, encourage parents to teach their babies (deaf and hearing!) baby sign language and let ALL babies reap the benefits of sign language!
March 20th, 2007 at 8:09 am
In few years ago, I took a class under Dr. Carol Erting. We talked about a man, who published book on baby sign for hearing.
Then few years later, I was in London, England reading newspaper while I enjoyed eating English breakfast. It was unbelieveable that the same man established 100 classes for hearing baby to learn sign in England!
March 20th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Thx for sharing! Its worth it.
As long deaf babies/children goes to deaf school or deaf program with their parents using ASL - hopefully they would have that bondings as baby signs. I myself am a deaf parent of two hearing kids and I myself am a Discovery Toys Educational Consultant and Discovery Toys now have Baby Signs set. I was glad to see that company has it for me to sell.
You know what I think? If you are a parent, you can do both as you wish!! Baby signs and AVT or just one of these.
Yea, it is sad if parents just do the AVT thing thats all.
Again, thanks for sharing and it should make the others to realize and maybe they become creative to do both!!!
What kind of world are we living in?! It is correct question and scary. I guess I can say that this is a changing world. Now we can press it, share it, talk about it as much as we want, do both methods, etc. It is a free world!!!!!!!
Best!
B ~
March 20th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I agree with your Vlogs. This clarifies the CORRUPTION that is going on in our Government policies and abuse of their tax monies. Everyone should have the equal rights and access to the highest quality of education especially for the Deaf too. Why they are wasting these tax dollars on these quixotical programs while the Overall Quality of Edcuation for everyone (deaf or hearing too) declines badly?
Personally, I think it is the best thing to teach Deaf Babies sign language and provide them voluntary access to learn oral or verbal skills at the right time, if neccessary. But not only that, they also need these important benefits of reducing their frustrations and developing their IQ. That would give them a wide variety of options to pick but not to LIMIT or SINGLIZE THEIR OPTIONS. Same goes for the Hearing Babies too.
My hearing sister is having a baby, most likely hearing but she does see the benefits of teaching him baby signs not only to reduce frustration and increase his IQ but also to communicate with his Deaf Uncle, namely me! I think Baby Signs are great communication tools but it should be universally used by everyone in need for it. Signs are one of the great communication gifts to the World!
This is the BEST VLOG I ever seen from you, Amy Efron Cohen! And only one I chose to reply to! You do see the Great Irony, having the Great Sight you have.
Thanks so much!
Stand UP and tell what YOU BELIEVE IS WRONG, Not only… do what is right!
March 20th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Amy,
You have said it all! Yes, its a great irony. I cannot help but wonder, if we all were to unite and enforce both speech/audio training and ASL for all Deaf children in all schools, what will happen to the Deaf teachers? They arent qualified to teach speech/audio training and with the growing population of deaf teachers overflowing the deaf education system, where will we find the teachers to teach speech/audio? I m asking this because I grew up in a total communication environment and coming from deaf parents, and having a deaf son myself, I have seen so much evolution and it frightens me that the future generation (1990 and on) the young Deaf children are not exposed to everything they should be. The deaf teachers and administrative managers have overpowered the Ontario deaf schools with an ASL focused cirriculum. I have been approached by hearing parents with deaf children wanting for them to have the best of both worlds and visiting the deaf schools to be scared shitless with just a primary ASL environment with most minimal audio/speech training because of the high numbers of deaf teachers. They rather send their children to public school with less support to ensure that their deaf child would know how to speak/talk/hear with aids of hearing aids or CI.
WE all need to change our attitudes and keep the link between the old methods and new methods, providing all aspects available to deaf children from here on. They can make us proud, especially with the information age we are in.
March 20th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
That would put deaf teachers out of commission because the teachers i know arent willing to balance both worlds in the classrooms. They are too angry or have anger issues about how they were brought up, rather than thanking their parents for making them work hard and learn the hard way. Our deaf children now are being babied, without aspects of challenging themselves. If they cant read english, the teachers sign in ASL. Come on! Where s the perseverance?
We need more literate Deaf people.
Caution - this isnt meant to offend anyone personally or impersonally. Its how I look at things. I want the best of both worlds for every deaf person out there. If the hearing kids can have that, heck, they would outrun our deaf kids in a second.
March 20th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
To “A Deaf Canadian” I think the solution would be to keep deaf teachers for deaf students AND having hearing people teach speech/audio. Makes sense to me. I personally think speech/audio should be done after school. I had to leave my classroom several times a week to do speech therapy and return having no idea what I missed in class [I was the only deaf student in almost every school I attended]. That was not a good idea because it created an imbalance and i missed out on useful information. I think speech therapy would be better suited for after school. Such as twice on the weekdays and once on the weekends? Just a thought,.
p.s I’m canadian too, GO Canada! Heh
Amy, thank you for doing this video, I have been thinking about this as well for a good long while. It’s such injustice
March 20th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Amy:
First a little history which may or may not shed some light on the subject your v-blog is about.
I was born a hearing person and lost my hearing right before my 9 th birthday.
In those years I had the opportunity to develop speech and language skills, eventhough they were backwoods communication standards.
After the hearing loss I was in a different world, ( your world / my new world ) where it seemed that all doors, mother nature, loved ones were just closed or shut out.
So I can say without argument I have worn the cloak of deafness, been through the deaf school thing, Gallaudet, ASL etc.
So fast forward..still deaf 40 some years later and a world of education by mother nature and the enviroment (living in the hearing word). I can say that “Yes it is very Ironic”.
But while your points are very valid there are a few things you must realize:
1. Anything that comes through the government grants almost always shows the successes so there is more grant money to be had.( so take it with a grain of salt)
But as for teaching signs to hearing babies. There is much valid argument behind the logic because My hearing wife and I taught all three of my hearing children signs when they were babies.
Now you will say ” what about deaf babies?”
Well most deaf people who have children will teach them signs weather they are deaf or hearing.. Correct??
so that leaves the hearing people whom are clueless as of what path to take.
If this program takes off , then eventually it will be spread to hospitals where birth parents will be informed…. But the question of irony is whom will teach the parents the signs to teach their children?? will insurance cover the program?? probably not…
so we are back to square one… it works but only for those who know signs alteady.
2.I had an CI about 5 years ago ( looking to see if you fell out of your chair or if I get nasty email),
so I believe I have some valid imput in this also.
ok ok .. now if any of you watch PBS you will be well aware that children do most of their development (sensory, spatal, language skills) between the age of 6 months to 5 to 7 years. depending on many factors like mental health and social status , income etc..
So since I have been implanted I will say that the program I saw in your V-blog about the 6 month old babies gives me both hope and disgust…Why????
First this is a parental decision..wouldnt any parent want what they thought best for their children if they had such means?? ( this does not mean the decision is the correct one).
so I will not argue the morale implications but let me make something clear.
Just getting an implant DOES NOT magically transfer you into another world of bliss, let you understand everything you hear, give you the voice of an angel.
before anything you hear is understood ( sight, sound, taste, smell and touch etc) it must be decoded by the brain, weather you are hearing, deaf blind etc.
For the brain to do this it must have a data base for reference else garbage in garbage out like a computer.
For the brain to get a data base it has to start from scratch but there is a catch… let me give a few examples:
Suppose I was a hearing person /deaf person who just got off the plane in China.My hearing is fine my sign lang is fine I see chinese signs / hear Chinese till I get dizzy but… DO I understand anything being said???? Probably not.. Why?? simple no data base in my head for reference.
example 2.
I get up for my morning jog and hear a bird, look up and see a red robin then be on my way. Next morning I hear it again and in my mind a picture of the bird I both heard and saw flashes in my mind and I know what it is.. Why?? because i now have a data base..
ok ok back to the V-blog where they implanted babies and covered their mouths etc to train the kid how to hear.. well that is both disgusting and assed backwards because there are no other clues for the poor kid to refer to to build a data base.
Doc
That being said.. while the intentions may be noble it does not belie the fact that some people are educated idiots.
Last…. In my deaf school they taught “Total Communication” (having a heart attack??).
In my opinion this would be the best system around.. Why??? simple not all deaf people are born on the same day, not with the same degree of deafness or cause or language levels, therefore to teach ASL only would discriminate against others whom should have the same opportunities in life.
I must say I enjoyed your V-blog and the debate you are trying to arise is a valid one.
So keep in mind what I have said about this and if you would like to chat just give me an E-Mail …
March 20th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
AAGHGGGHGHGHHHHHH …
When the hell will people realize that YOU DON’T HAVE TO FORCE CHILDREN TO WANT TO COMMUNICATE?! DAMN it, the human brain is DESIGNED to conenct with other humans! That’s how the frigging thing works! It WANTS to communicate! It WANTS to get out of its little bony prison of a skull and be one witgh other humans! YOU DON’T HAVE TO FORCE A CHILD TO LEARN TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS!
DAMN IT! If you need to FORCE a child to “learn” to hear, to listen to words from covered up mouths, if you have to go through that over and over for months and months, IT AIN’T EFFING WORKING! JUST STOP, will you?! If a child is at ALL capable of decoding sound into words, they will DO it. They just will. Faster and mroe fluently than any adult could ever hope to. Our brains are sad little beaters compared to the magnificent little Ferraris children have between their ears. G*ddamn it, if you must FORCE a child to sit still for a speech lesson, the effing lesson is a waste of time.
If you must FORCE a child to wear a hearing aid or CI, the effing thing doesn’t work. If it works, they’ll wear it, they’ll learn to use it, they’ll manage the same way to small children manage to absorb entire languages with zero effort and no explicit instruction — their brains just do it. If the stupid things work, the kid will wear them and learn how to use them on their own — that’s what the brains do automatically.
TEACH THEM LANGUAGES! Just TEACH THEM the damned things! As many as possible, as many languages as you have time for and they have interest in! DAMN it, that’s my second rant topic — when it comes to languages, the ONLY rule is THE MORE THE BETTER. Period!
And get off your lazy damned ass and learn to sign if your kid is deaf. Just frigging learn to sign! Even if the kid gets a CI or uses HAs, there’s no guarantee they’ll work! JUST EFFING LEARN TO SIGN! JESUS. I am legendarily obsessed with languages, but I cannot believe that there are people out there who would contort themselves into such knots to AVOID learning a new language!
AGH. Okay, summary:
1) You do NOT neded to teach/force/train a human child to want to connect with other humans. If they can do it, they will. If they can’t, you can trust that their native drive to WANT to do so is so strong that, if it’s not sufficient to overcome the obstacle of deafness then … well, maybe your trying to TEACH them to hear is the real obstacle?
2) JUST LEARN TO EFFING SIGN. Just STFU and learn to sign. Just do it. No, your kid won’t even be “almost as good as a hearing child!” No, your kid won’t ever be “just like everyone else!” No, your kid won’t ever be “mistaken for hearing,” or whatever other crap you’ve heard. YOUR KID IS DEAF. DEAL WITH IT. There’s a perfectly good way to communicate with them — FRICKING LEARN TO SIGN. Cram that language in there. English will follow, as will any other language they care to absorb should they have that gift, and should you confront the reality that your child is different, will remain so, and that the obstacle of their deafness isn’t a patch on the obstacle created by your refusal to deal with their deafness.
God, I just BOIL when I hear about people who go to such lengths to avoid learning a language. I am one of those weirdly wired creatures who would crawl over broken glass to get to a foreign language. Children will also overcome ANY obstacle to learn what they need to do in order to connect.
*arghghghghghhh*
I have to go someplace else and seethe now.
March 20th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
One more thing (I’m always saying that) — browneyedgirl65 once remarked that when she was little, she hadn’t ever met a single deaf adult. As a result, she figured she’d just sort of grow out of being deaf, like orthodontics.
It occurs to me that the stupidity of concentrating on the one data input channel that the teachers know doesn’t work for deaf babies, they are acting the same way. That by applying constant, unrelenting, ceaseless pressure to the ears in the form of continual sound training, they think they can force the ears to assume a “corrected” state, like putting a retainer on crooked teeth.
Of course, you flush the first few years of the kid’s language development straight down the toilet, but hey, can’t make an omelette and all that …
It just stuns me that, for hearing babies with two functioning data input channels, both channels are employed with these baby sign programs, sight and hearing. For deaf babies … hey, I know! Let’s put all our effort into the one data channel that we know doesn’t work! Yeah, that’s brilliant! Nobel Prize, here we come!
o_O
Who the hell poured stupid in these people’s koolaid, anyway?
March 21st, 2007 at 12:58 am
Wow! Well said! This irony is beyond my understanding.
March 21st, 2007 at 12:59 am
Maybe in the first 8 years of a Deaf child’s life, he/she would be exposed to EVERYTHING possible, with a strong foundation of reading comphrension and then go from there? Reading does help, ya know?
Im sick of hearing deafies complain of what they experienced .. move on. It made us stronger. We need to pass on that strength to our deaf kids. We will always be different. MOVE ON with what works. We all know everything works, we just dont know which kid will respond to which so lets feed them EVERYTHING!
I grew up in a fucked up education system and heck, Im glad because it made me work harder. Unlike most deaf brats, (pardon me for saying that) these days, they whine if the teacher doesnt sign enough from the book and dont do much work themselves. I have seen it firsthand myself as a mom, educational aide and supply teacher at Canada’s supposedly number one school for the deaf.
We all need to be open minded and accept everything regardless of OUR experiences. Our children do not need to be raised by biases or oppression by US. Yes, thats right, US, the deaf people.. not the hearing. We are the ones oppressing them based on our sad childhoods.
March 21st, 2007 at 10:57 am
Very well said! thats very true! I am Deaf with four Deaf children. Upbringing my children with TOO MANY changes in communication system and education at provincal schools for deaf over the years was just outrageous! It is very sad that it is STILL HAPPENING today! Right now my children are older, survived from all those crap; have good jobs and got married, they have deaf children themselves now. The education system just repeats! This has to stop! ASL will NEVER die! Why should we need to continue fighting for better education? Gosh… when will they ever listen? it has to be stopped somewhere!
Canadian Deaf Mom
March 21st, 2007 at 7:22 pm
This reminds me of my days at the New York League for Hard of Hearing (Now called The League for Hard of Hearing)_
March 21st, 2007 at 7:31 pm
Lol it is good to see that some people have common sense and can see through this smoke and mirrors…
Basically I think the v-Blog was just another tear jerker and whom can resist the pull of a cute baby..
Sighhh and yes there are a lot of deaf people still beating on a dead horse..
This is the perfect example of a “CLOSED” society where no fresh Ideas will ever make it in.
There is a spieces in nature which behave in the same way .. they are called Lemmings, and if you are able to read CC on the animal planet you would be aware where they lead enmasse.
While I must give the lady points for the neat packaging and presentation of the V-Blog (S.O.S in a smoother package), there is a lot missing or not being said.. but propoganda is propoganda ya know.
In general this is not also a deaf problem it is a world wide problem and it is catching on pretty fast and there is a new name for it….
Educatedidiotism.
Doc
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:16 am
Bravo, Amy! You hit the nail on the head. Perhaps you and the research behind the Baby Signs® program can finally change the course of deaf education.
Mary Grace Basco
BS Deaf Education
RID CSC, CI, CT
Baby Signs® Independent Certified Instructor
March 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 pm
I couldn’t agree anymore! That’s why I’m going into audiology field (I’m deaf… yes I’m deaf) to challenge the old idea of AVT and gently encourage the bi-modal/bi-lingual approach. The fact deaf babies are not given the privilege to use its natural language that hearing babies are allowed to take advantage of-is NON-sense.
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for this. This should have been in PBS the other night.
March 24th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
[…] WORD NEWLY REVISED TRANSCRIPT DOCUMENT - CLICK HERE PDF TRANSCRIPT DOCUMENT - CLICK HERE source: DEAF WORLD AS EYE SEE IT » The Greatest Irony __________________ Boult I.T.M.F.A. I am a CI Borg, Proud to be and loving it! MYTHS AND LIES […]
March 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Amy,
wanted to say this…
Good Vlogs!
However, I just want to comment on Baby Signs. The reason it is used on hearing babies is because it is only used during the time that baby don’t speak intelligible word and once they learn to speak correctly, signs are dropped. (unless parent are deaf, they may continue)
As for AVT, It is longer than Baby Signs…
again, Good Vlogs!
Cheers!
March 27th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
WOW!!!!! What a powerful vlog! I have to admit that when Baby Signs began being used a few years ago, I was confused. I had the inital feeling that it was WONDERFUL for hearing babies but not deaf babies because of my experience. I had to endure AVT. I hated AVT. I’m profoundly deaf, and hearing aids were NOT helping!!! My parents fought to have me educated in ASL, and used ASL at home all the time. I have been showing your vlog to parents of deaf children and deaf friends. Thank you for such a powerful observation and saying what I’ve been thinking.
As for Baby Signs being stopped after the baby is old enough to speak, that hasn’t been the case. They have continued to use Baby Signs and expanded it into ASL. I have a hearing nephew who is 6 years old, and he is learning fully phrased ASL. He was raised on Baby Signs too. I predict that the next few generations, we will see an overwhelming number of signing hearing adults who were raised on Baby Signs and moved on to ASL. Maybe both sides will be completely bridged by then.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Amy,
Is there problem with part 2? both on YouTube and on this page.. hmmm?
Hana,
Are you trying to imply that “They” = Every? To me, that’s not the case. I would agree if it is “Some”
Regards…
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Amy
Boy! You must be piss to hell feeling like cat tied to chair those so call know everything are wearing earmuff and scratching the blackboard (slate) with fingernails! Must be nerve Wacking!
By the way did you have any personal interview to the FDA and Health Institue of Health? How much grant was issue from FDA for AVT and cohclear implants? as well for Health Institue of Health for baby signs programs.
May 10th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
SUPER! I enjoyed watching your vlog! I am the one who went through AVT when I was young. This did helped me to talk BUT my language linguistics development was not very good. Currently, I am so focused with ASL since 11th grade (in late 70’s). I sometimes having difficult to be creative writing, I admitted. ASL is best communication method for me. Right now, I am advocate for any deaf born (or any late-deafened) to learn ASL. Thank you for publish your vlog!
May 15th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Your passion and these eye opening facts struck me. I teach baby sign language, and have produced the 1st DVDs in Canada on baby signing (My business name is Mimic Baby Sign Language).
I have felt some bizzare politcs when approached by people with deaf children, but who somehow are ignorant to a deaf world (and believe they are benefiting their child by denying their deafness and isolating them in a state of limbo not knowing sign). I shy away from them thinking “how sad”. But now I cannot. The irony has been exposed, and I want to help.
July 14th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
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July 15th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
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July 16th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
FYI - I cannot view the second video. I keep getting an error about the QuickTime file being AWOL. The other 3 are okay.
I’d really, really like to see the second one. *smile* Thanks!
September 24th, 2007 at 7:32 am
I teach with the Department of International Languages
at the College of Southern Nevada. Among the classes I teach is Deaf Culture where I cover a wide range of realities regarding Deaf Culture. This includes the concept that DC is a captured culture and the impact of external societal forces imposed upon it. Your “The greatest Irony” reinforces a number of topics relevant to this concept. Thus I’m asking your permission to copy the videos for use in illustrating these points during my lectures. May I?
September 30th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I wanted to share your vlog with hearing family members to help get the word out, especially now that people are learning about audism. Where did the video go? Is this now a business venture? I hope the site is just down for the moment, because the best way to get the general public to learn is to allow the powerful internet to disseminate the info as fast as possible! Thank you.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:04 am
[…] for a deaf child to learn sign language. Indeed. I think Amy Choen Efron even did a four part vblog commenting on that. She calls it The Greatest Irony which is a rather apt title. […]
January 1st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
[…] they can work out their ideas. Most people were able to witness the creative genius of Amy’s Greatest Irony video last year. We can only imagine the forethought that went into birthing that great video. Just […]
March 14th, 2008 at 12:52 am
[…] are still alive since amy has changed her vlog and is charging everyone to view her videos… DEAF WORLD AS EYE SEE IT
May 17th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
[…] cartoon has "Thre Greatest Irony" was based on this blog… DEAF WORLD AS EYE SEE IT
June 28th, 2008 at 2:22 am
[…] Response to Amy Cohen Efron’s vlog: The Greatest Irony […]